Health Care

 

In his effort to enact health care reform in 1912, President Theodore Roosevelt described the importance of health care best when he said, “No country can be strong if its people are sick and poor.” These sentiments ring as true today as they did then. Health care is an essential right, and a healthy America is a more productive, safer and better place to call home.

 

Though no bill is perfect, I’m proud to have voted for the Affordable Care Act (ACA) because it ensures that millions of Americans have access to affordable, quality health care. Gone are the days that an insurance company can drop someone’s coverage due to a preexisting condition or impose lifetime spending caps on coverage. As a member of the House Appropriations Committee, I have fought to fund some of the Fifth District’s most important health programs like Planned Parenthood, community health centers  and HIV prevention. I also been proud to work to advance critical research and development and fully fund the National Institutes for Health (NIH), which supports groundbreaking developments in cancer, heart disease, Alzheimer’s, and countless other conditions.

 

The U.S. health system is built on innovation, and the Chicago area is home to some of the world’s brightest leaders in the health care industry. As your Member of Congress, I understand how Chicagoans benefit from being on the cutting edge of health care, cultivated through public private partnerships and direct investment, and I will continue to work to ensure every American has access to the best care possible.